Rick Giordano describes the independent approach behind BLOOD MOTHER in direct terms: “I've never been a person that neatly fits in with any group, or made music that neatly fits into any category, so it just makes sense to operate independently.” That project now joins ANTHROPONEURAL for the two-track collaboration The New Flesh / The Night Fires, available to hear now.
The singles bring BLOOD MOTHER's post black metal approach together with ANTHROPONEURAL's industrial rhythms and cinematic horror sound design. The announcement frames distortion, tension, atmosphere and release as the common ground between the projects, drawing on extreme metal and industrial techno throughout the pairing.
“The New Flesh” centers on pounding electronic rhythms, distorted textures, ominous melodies and visceral vocals. Its stated themes involve mechanical violence and psychological unease, with imagery of machinery, flesh and consciousness beginning to merge.
“The Night Fires” takes a more ritualistic direction. Heavy electronic propulsion and dark melodic textures underpin a structure described in the announcement as unfolding like a horror sequence: tension builds as increasingly ominous elements enter, bringing the electronic and metal components into the same sonic landscape. The release summarizes the pairing as “The New Flesh” — the machine, and “The Night Fires” — the ritual. Berkay Kayha created the collaboration's cover artwork.
ANTHROPONEURAL draws from hard techno, industrial music, extreme metal, horror cinema and experimental electronics. Distorted electronics, ominous synths and ritualistic sound design are central to the project's approach.
BLOOD MOTHER is the project of Giordano, the composer behind THE LION'S DAUGHTER. Its music combines black metal and synth-driven ambience with atmospheric soundscapes and Western Americana influences. Isolation, paranoia, violence and terror inform the material, while the announcement connects its grit and desolation to Giordano's upbringing in the American heartlands.
“After 18 years of releasing music and touring the world, the daughter had to die so that the mother could live,” Giordano says of starting BLOOD MOTHER.
The collaboration follows BLOOD MOTHER's recently debuted self-titled first studio album. Giordano handles guitar, bass, synth and vocals, accompanied by Erik Ramsier on drums. Ramsier is also the longtime drummer and percussionist for THE LION'S DAUGHTER. The debut features artwork by graphic novelist The Salamander King, mixing by Ryan Wasoba and mastering by Joel Hatstat.
BLOOD MOTHER operates independently and self-releases with help from Wolf Mountain Productions, which handles distribution and management. The debut is available through the official webstore and Bandcamp. Expanding on his decision to remain independent, Giordano adds: “I also look at the current state of the music and most of the bands that are popular now, and think why the fuck would I want anything to do with that?”
The announcement lists Ulver, Darkspace, Blut Aus Nord, Cult of Luna, Sunn O))) and Wayfarer as reference points for BLOOD MOTHER. Supplied artist photographs are credited to Chris Bauer.
- The Night Fires (05:04)
- Bonecanter (05:51)
- Trail Of The Screaming Dead (04:58)
- The Wound Of Heaven (04:00)
- Lost In Thunder (05:38)
- Pulled Apart (05:36)
The debut's accompanying material also includes videos for “The Night Fires,” “The Wound Of Heaven” and “Pulled Apart.”
